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Product Key Invalid for Activation Message Now Popping Up

Question

I mucked up my Vista Home Premium machine and had to reinstall the MBR by attempting to reinstall the OS. I only had a Vista Premium install disk to work off of, but it worked in getting my machine up and running again. After a few weeks, I have begun to
get the Windows Activation popup screen stating that my Vista Ultimate product key is invalid. My computer now thinks it's a Vista Ultimate machine (even says so in My computer->Properties). Per a suggestion from answers.microsoft.com forums, I ran the
MGA diagnostics tool and have pasted the results below. Any ideas on how to fix this? I have a valid Vista Home Premium key for this machine, it just isn't being accepted. Thanks in advance to all responses

Answers

I've been trying for weeks to get the re-install disks from Dell, but this device has been tagged as stolen (I bought it off EBay and am at least 3 owners down from whomever first owned it). Dell won't remove the stolen tag and send me the disks until I notify
them who the original owner is!!! How the ^%&% am I supposed to know that? I've sent a followup for them to call me (every time they've called, they've called the wrong number or wrong time of day). I have yet to actually talk to a person ... only email
responses which leads me to believe they don't fully understand the situation.
Rob Nelli

OK - the other option is to borrow a Full Retail Win 7 disk from someone, and use that for a clean install, using your COA Key. (you can copy it yourself for future need)

I mucked up my Vista Home Premium machine and had to reinstall the MBR by attempting to reinstall the OS. I only had a Vista Premium install disk to work off of, but it worked in getting my machine up and running again. After a few weeks, I have begun to
get the Windows Activation popup screen stating that my Vista Ultimate product key is invalid. My computer now thinks it's a Vista Ultimate machine (even says so in My computer->Properties). Per a suggestion from answers.microsoft.com forums, I ran the
MGA diagnostics tool and have pasted the results below. Any ideas on how to fix this? I have a valid Vista Home Premium key for this machine, it just isn't being accepted. Thanks in advance to all responses

I followed the instructions as you provided and am still getting the activation window with "An unauthorized change was made to Windows". When I enter my Vista Ultimate product key code, I still get the same error. My latest MGADiag report is below. I notice
the following line in the report:

I followed the instructions as you provided and am still getting the activation window with "An unauthorized change was made to Windows". When I enter my Vista Ultimate product key code, I still get the same error. My latest MGADiag report is below. I notice
the following line in the report:

Something's odd there - the entire Licensing section is missing from the report this time! - did everything in my instructions complete without any error message?

about your Key...

Computers which are built by large manufactures that come with Windows Pre-Installed, come with two (2) Product Keys:

A) OEM SLP: This key comes pre-installed in Windows, when it comes from the Factory. This key is geared to work with the OEM Bios Flag found only on that Manufacturer's computer hardware. So when Windows was installed using the OEM SLP key (at the
factory) Windows looks at the motherboard and sees the proper OEM Bios Flag (for that Manufacturer and that version of Windows) and Self-Activates. (that's why you did not need to Activate your computer after you brought it home)

B) COA SLP: This is the Product key that you see on the sticker on the side (or bottom) of your computer. It is a valid product key, but should only be used in limited situations (such as if the OEM SLP key stops self-activating for whatever
reason). The key must be activated by Phone. (Note: All manufacturers that use the OEM SLP system are required by contract to include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, that has a COA SLP key, on the computer)

The one currently in use is the OEM_SLP Key - the one on your is sticker the COA_SLP Key.

The only thing I can think of is that you messed up with the initial install.

An upgrade requires a validated, activated system to upgrade from - and since you say that you used ' a Vista Home Premium re-install disk' to do the install, it's likely that you have failed at that point, and managed to force something too far.

Your best option is to contact Toshiba and order a set of recovery disks for your machine - then use them to get it back to factory-fresh.

I've been trying for weeks to get the re-install disks from Dell, but this device has been tagged as stolen (I bought it off EBay and am at least 3 owners down from whomever first owned it). Dell won't remove the stolen tag and send me the disks until
I notify them who the original owner is!!! How the ^%&% am I supposed to know that? I've sent a followup for them to call me (every time they've called, they've called the wrong number or wrong time of day). I have yet to actually talk to a person ...
only email responses which leads me to believe they don't fully understand the situation.Rob Nelli

I've been trying for weeks to get the re-install disks from Dell, but this device has been tagged as stolen (I bought it off EBay and am at least 3 owners down from whomever first owned it). Dell won't remove the stolen tag and send me the disks until I notify
them who the original owner is!!! How the ^%&% am I supposed to know that? I've sent a followup for them to call me (every time they've called, they've called the wrong number or wrong time of day). I have yet to actually talk to a person ... only email
responses which leads me to believe they don't fully understand the situation.
Rob Nelli

OK - the other option is to borrow a Full Retail Win 7 disk from someone, and use that for a clean install, using your COA Key. (you can copy it yourself for future need)